Bumping post



- S. W. HAYES BUMPING POST Filed Oct. 17, 1940 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 May 11, 1943. s. w. HAYES BUMPING POST Filed Oct. 17 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 venzf or b'zi'anfqy 1. [221365 By Patented May 11, 1943 BUlVIPING POST Stanley W. Hayes, Richmond, Ind., assignor to Hayes Track Appliance Company, Richmond, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application October 17, 1940, Serial No. 361,519

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in bumping posts of the type in which a bumper head, located between the rails, is supported on the roadbed by tension and compression means.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved bumping post that is simple in construction and yet so rugged that it may be used in the severest kind of service.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved bumping post constructed as a single unit.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a bumping post comprising only a relatively few parts so shaped that they may be A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved bumping post that may be easily secured to the track rails.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description, in the course of which reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a bumping post embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the bumping post illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, showing it mounted onthe roadbed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line l-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken along the line 5 5- of Fig. 3. v

The bumping post of the present invention is especially suited for use in installations where severe service Qconditions are encountered. An example of such an installation is one in a steel plant where the post is used on tracks over which hot mold buggies travel. These buggies are not provided with automatic couplers or any kind of shock absorbing draft gears so that the bumping post is subjected to the severest kind of service. While the bumping post of this invention is particularly suited for this type of service, it com prises many features that may be advantageously used in other types of installations.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, it may be seen that the bumping post of the present invention, indicated generally by reference character ill, comprises a bumper head l2 supported substantially centrally above a pair of rails is by a pair of compression members It of novel construction extending downwardly, outwardly and rearwardly from the bumper head and an integral tension member is comprising portions 20 and 22 diverging downwardly and outwardly from the bumper head.- Certain of the features embodied in the specific form of bumping post illustrated herein are disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 338,003, filed May 31, 1940' (Patent No. 2,308,877 granted January 19, 1943).

The tension member is connected in suitable manner as by welding directly to an angle iron cross piece 2% extending underneath the bases of rails M, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the compression members 16 are secured at their I lower ends to an angle iron cross piece 26, of a length slightly less than the distance between the rail bases, as indicated best in Figs. 2 and 4. The compression members l6 are connected together in novel manner by a top plate 28.

The bumping post is adapted to be secured to the webs of the rails by a pair of horizontal bars 30 secured to the lower ends of the tension memher It, the compression members l6, and also to cross piece 26' in a manner to be described in detail shortly. The bars are each provided with spaced-apart apertures 32 at each end for the reception of suitable securing means such as the hits 3 passing through the rail webs. The welding of the tension and compression transmitting members directly to the cross pieces and the utilization of the bars 30 for securing the post to tie track rails result in a construction wherein complicated track fixtures are eliminated.

Before proceeding with a detailed description of the construction of the bumping post, it may be well to describe the track stiliening structure utilized in connection therewith for preventing the track from rising at the point of tension connection to the roadbed and for dividing the outward sidewise rail spreading thrust on the compression members. This structure consists of the previously mentioned cross pieces 2 and 26 and longitudinal members comprising a pair of intermediate rai-ls 36 located adjacent track rails M and extending a substantial distance along the track. The intermediate rails 36 are secured to" the ties by suitable means and to the compression cross piece 26 by rail clips 38 having portions surrounding the bases of rails 35 and secured as by welding to the rear vertically disposed portion of cross piece 26', in order that they may abut against a tie when the bumping post is installed in place, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Additional stifiening is provided by four anchor bars 49 secured to rail brackets 42 which are se- In the first place it permits the use of a bumper head consisting simply of a generally rectangular plate l2 which can be easily secured to the tension member by .welding at the rear and sides thereof, as indicated by reference characters 44' and 46 in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. In the second place the tension member can be welded in simple manner directly to both the horizontal and vertical portions of the angle iron cross piece 24, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Furthermore, simple triangular braces 48 welded to the front side of the tension member and the top of cross piece, 24 may be utilized to give additional rigidity to the bumping post.

Another of the important features of the present invention resides in making the compression members I 6 of plates formed in the shape of triangles-preferably in the shape of right angle triangles each having an apex in proximity to the bumper head and its base adjacent a track rail-and connecting the inclined top sides thereof by the plate 28 of generally trapezoidal form, thereby to provide a very sturdy substantially closed top or box-like construction.

The upstanding front sides of the compression members iii are secured to the rear of the tension member l8 and the inclined top sides to the under side of top plate 28, as by welding. The lower rear ends of the compression members are secured to compression cross piece 26 in rugged fashion by being welded to the top surface of the cross piece and to both the front and top sides of spacing blocks 50 which are also welded to the top surface of the cross piece. The lower ends of the compression members are notched so that they rest upon the cross piece and en-- circle portion of the spacing blocks.

The horizontal bars 30 are secured at their rear ends to outwardly extending portions of spacing blocks 50 and at their front ends to spacing blocks 52 secured to the outer sides of tension member I8. The bars are secured intermediate their ends to compression members l6 by spacing blocks 54. Additional strength and rigidity are imparted to the post by triangular braces 56 and 58 secured to the outer sides of compression members I 6 and to the front ends of spacing blocks 50 and 54, respectively.

From the foregoing it may be seen that the bumping post of the present invention may be fabricated very simply as by welding from a number of parts of simple configuration cut by a torch or the like, which parts need not be cut at a bevel and, with the exception of the compression and tension cross pieces, are made from metal-plate or metal bars. The bumping post of the invention is not only adapted readily to be fabricated, but it also provides a substantial structure well able to withstand the heavy impacts to which it is subject in use. It comprises a minimum of parts inasmuch as it is constructed as an integral unit designed for shipment and installation on tracks as such. Furthermore, it can be simply and securely fastened to the roadbed by means of the horizontal bars 30 secured to the lower opposite sides of the bumping post.

While a single embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, it should be understood that this embodiment is intended to be illustrative and not limitative of the invention.

I claim:

1. A bumping post constructed as an integral unit designed for shipment and installation on track rails as such, including in combination, a bumper head, means supporting the bumper head between and above the rails defining a substantially pyramidal shaped closed top structure extending downwardly, outwardly and rearwardly from near the upper end of the bumper head and to the front side of which said bumper head is secured, and means secured to the lower portion of; said structure for attaching said post to the rails.

2. A bumping post constructed as an integral unit designed for shipment and installation on track rails as such, including in combination, a bumper head, means for supporting the bumper head between and above the rails, said means including an inverted V-shaped tension absorbing member and a compression absorbing member comprising generally triangular plates each having an apex located in proximity to the upper end of the bumper head and its base adjacent a track rail, and means secured to the base portions of said plates for attaching said post to the rails.

3. A bumping post constructed as an integral unit designed for shipment and installation on track rails as such, including in combination, a bumper head, means for supporting the bumper head between and above the rails, said means including an inverted V-shaped tension absorbing member and a compression absorbing member comprising generally triangular plates each having an apex located in proximity to the upper end of the bumper head and its base adjacent a track rail and a generally trapezoidal plate secured to the inclined top sides of said generally trianguler plates, and means secured to the base portions of said generally triangular plates for attaching said post to the rails.

4. A bumping post constructed as an integral unit designed for shipment and installation on track rails as such, including in combination, a bumper head, means supporting the bumper head between and above the rails defining a substantially pyramidal shaped closed top structure extending downwardly, outwardly and rearwardly from the bumper head and to the front side of which saidbumper head is secured, transversely extending cross pieces secured to the lower front and rear ends of the bumping post and forming an integral part thereof, and means secured to the lower portion of said structure for attaching said post to the rails.

5. A bumping post, including in combination, a bumper head, means supporting the bumper head between and above the rails defining a substantially closed top structure extending downwardly, outwardly and rearwardly from the bumper head, said structure terminating in a front portion lying substantially in a vertical plane extending transversely of the rails and said bumper head consisting of a flat plate welded in front of and to the upper end of said portion, and means secured to the lower portion of said structure for attaching said post to the rails.

6. A bumping post for use on track rails, including in combination, a bumper head, means for supporting the bumper head between and above the rails, said means including generally triangular plates each having an apex located substantially centrally of and to the rear of the bumper head and its base adjacent a track rail, and means for securing the post to the rails, said means including bars secured to the outer sides of said plates and adapted to fit against the inner sides of the rail webs and having lengths substantially equal to the length of the post.

7. A bumping post, including in combination, a bumper head, compression and tension stress transmitting means, said tension transmitting means comprising a generally V-shaped bar disposed in inverted position in a plane perpendicular to the rails, and diverging from its apex to opposite points adjacent the rails, a tension cross piece extending beneath the bases of the rails and secured to the lower ends of said diverging portions of said tension member, said compression transmitting means comprising a pair of generally triangular plates secured to the rear side of said tension member and diverging outwardly, downwardly and rearwardly and a generally trapezoidal plate secured to the upper edges of said plates and to the rear upper end of said tension member, a compression cross piece secured to the rear lower ends of said triangular plates, and substantially parallel bars of a width to abut against the rail webs secured to opposite o outer sides of said triangular plates and tension member for attaching said structure to the rails.

8. A bumping post constructed as an integral unit designed for shipment and installation on track rails as such, including in combination, a bumper head and means supporting the bumper head between and above the rails defining a substantially pyramidal shaped closed top structure extending downwardly, outwardly and rearwardly from near the upper end of the bumper head and to the front side of which said bumper head is secured.

9. A bumping post constructed as an integral unit designed for shipment and installation on track rails as such, including in combination, a bumper head, and means supporting the bumper head between and above the rails, said means ineluding an inverted V-shaped tension absorbing member and a compression absorbing member comprising generally triangular plates each having an apex located in proximity to the upper end of the bumper head and its baseadjacent a track rail.

10. A bumping post for use on track rails, including in combination, a bumper head, means for supporting the bumper head between and above the rails, said means including a pair of generally triangular plates each having an apex located substantially centrally of and to the rear of the bumper head and its base adjacent a track rail, a cross piece extending between the ends of said plates remote from the bumper head, means for securing said cross piece to said plates, said means including spacers secured to the top of and adjacent the ends of said cross piece and extending outwardly in the direction of the cross piece, and said remote ends of each of said plates being notched to rest upon the tops of the cross piece and associated spacer and means for securing the plates to said spacers and cross piece, and means for securing said post to the track rails, said means including bars each fitting against the inner side of a fan web and secured to the outer end of a spacer.

11. A bumping post for use on track rails, including in combination, a bumper head, means for supporting said bumper head between and above the rails, said means including a generally V-shaped tension transmitting member disposed in a plane transverse and perpendicular to the rails and the downwardly diverging portions of which extend adjacent the inner sides of the rails, and generally triangular plates secured to said tension member and each having an apex located near the top of said member and its base adjacent a track rail, a cross piece extending between and secured to the ends of the plates remote from the apex, and means for securing said post to the rails, said means including bars of a length substantially equal to that of the post and fitting against the inner side of the rail webs, and means for securing said bars to said member, cross piece and plates.

STANLEY W. HAYES.

CERTIFI GATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,518,9h0. May 11, 19m.

STANLEY w. HAYES.

, It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction-as follows: Page 5, sec- 0nd column, line 26, claim 10, for the word "fan" read -railand that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of July, A. D. 19%.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

